Feeler mechanism for looms



APPLICATION FILED OCT 71 WW.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC SNOW, OELAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. 'IO DRAZEER CORPORATION,

OF IIOPE DALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Application filed October 7, 1919. Serial No. 328,977.

To all w ham it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, IsAAo SNOW, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve nisms for looms whereby'filling replenishment is effected prior to complete exhaustio of filling in the running shuttle.

In that class of feeler mechanisms now generally known as the side swipe type, the feeler which detects the condition of filling in the shuttle is given a movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, and through a train of mechanism, such movement of the feeler is. utilized in effecting replenishment of filling. The lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler has usually "been imparted either by the fro'ntward pressure upon the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted, or by a separate instrumentality, such as a spring which acts to effect such movement at the critical stage of the filling.

The present invention has more particular reference to that "type of side swipe feeler mechanisms wherein the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler is" due in part at least, tothe frontward pressureupon the feeler, and one ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism of this general character, wherein the feeler is given its movement longitudinally of the shuttle, or side swipe movement, by cam mechanism, as will more fully'appear.

An important feature of the present invention consists in providing a feeler'and a companion or guide memberwith connections such that the two will be caused to move frontwardlyin unison when a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, but when the filling is substantially exhausted, the feeler will be given a movement longitudinally of the shuttle by the cam mechanism due to the frontward pressure upon the feeler. i s

The above and other novel features and combination of parts will be hereinafter de scribed in connection with one good practical form-of the invention, and the true scope Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

of the invention will be described in the claims.

' In the drawings g a r I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the detecting side of the loom, showing more particularly the feeler mechanism and its associated parts;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the train of'mechanism actuated by the feeler to, effect replenishment of filling. The replenishing mechanism and the detail connections therewith for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler has moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, is not herein shown, as the particulars thereof do not form an intimate part of, the present invention, and may be of usual well known construction.

- A loom frame 1 has mounted thereon the brackets 2, one at either side of the loom, in which is mounted the transverse or rock shaft 3 from which rises the arm 4 having as at 11 to register with the slot '12 in the wall of the shuttle 13-,when the latter is in the detecting box. The shuttle .13 carries the usual filling carrier or bobbin 14.

The shipper stand 15has extended therefrom the arm 16 upon which is adjustably mounted the bracket 17 by means of a suitable bolt 18 which 19 of the arm-16. A

' The present invention contemplates. that the feeler member and its companion or guide member shall be mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom,

and in the present instance, the bracket 17 has secured thereto a feeler stand 20. The

feeler stand 20 may be connected torthe bracket 17 by screws 21 or other suitable means. Mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom on the feeler stand 20 is the member 22 which, for idenfeeler guide. The feeler guide 22 passes passes through the slot through an opening in the upstanding rear lug 23 connected to the feeler stand, and its frontwardly extending stem 24 passes through an opening in the front flange 25 of the feeler stand. A spring 26, one end of which bears against the flange 25 and the other against a shoulder 27 formed on or secured to the feeler guide, normally acts to hold the feeler guide 22 in rearward position with the stop pin 28 bearing against the rear flange 23 to limit the rearward movement of the feeler guide.

The feeler 29 is mounted on the feeler stand 20 and passes through an opening or slot 30 formed between the rear flange 23 and the upper-surface of the feeler stand, the construction being such that the feeler 29 may be moved frontwardly and have a lateral or side swipe movement. The feeler 29 has a toothed engaging end portion 31 which is adapted to engage a surface within the shuttle on each detecting beat.

In the present instance of the invention, the feeler guide 22 is provided with an inclined or cam surface 32 which is engaged by a cam projection 33 formed upon the feeler 29, the construction being such that when the feeler member 29 receives upon it the frontward push of a working supply of filling in the shuttle, and is consequently prevented from being displaced laterally by the frontward pressure upon it, the inclines or cam connections between the feeler I guide and feeler 29, cause the feeler and feeler guide to be moved frontwardly together against the tension of the spring 26. When, however, the filling has become substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and the feeler 29 is permitted to move in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the fro-ntward push upon it, the incline or cam 33 of the feeler member moves frontwardly relative to the incline 32 of the feeler guide, thereby causing the feeler to be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push upon it.

The feeler guide 22 is preferably slotted as at 34, and through the slotted end extends the rear portion of the feeler 29 which is provided with a stop 35 to limit the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat. The portion of the feeler 29 within the slot 34 is preferably'inclined as at 34 to form a cam face cooperating with the bottom of the slot, and this incline 34 operates: similarly to the incline 32 to impart lateral movement to the fceler. The feeler 29 is also provided with a stop pin 36 which serves to limit the rearward position of the feeler by engagement with the upstanding flange 23.

The present invention contemplates utilizing the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler 29 to effect replenishment of fillto this end consists of a lever 37 pivotally mounted at 38 to the feeler stand, and hav- I ing an end portion 39 adapted to bear against the feeler. In the present instance of the invention, the rear end portion 39 of the lever 37 has a part embracing the upper and lower surfaces of the feeler, one of said parts consisting of a finger 40 bearing upon the upper surface of the feeler, and the other a finger 41 bearing upon the lower surface of the feeler member, the part 42 between the fingers 40, 41 constituting a bearing surface whichrests upon the feeler 29. A spring 43 has one end secured to thefeeler stand as at 44, and the other end secured to the rear end portion of the lever 37 as at 45, the construction being such that the spring 43 normally holds the lever 37 yieldingly against the feeler member, and the inclines 32,33 in their normal position of engagement as indicated in Fig. 3. y

The lever 37 has connected thereto one end of a transmitter 46, the other end of which is connectedat 47 to one arm of a lever 48 pivoted at 49 to a stand 50 risingfrom the loom frame. The lever 48 has a finger 51 which underlies the latch 6, the construction being such that when the lever 47 is moved upon its pivotal mounting by the lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler on a detecting beat, the lever 48 will be turned to place the end 7 of the latch 6 in the path of movement of the operating member 8, which upon frontward movement efl'ects replenishment of filling.

When the working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, the filling engages the toothed or rear engaging end portion 31 of the feeler, and the teeth sink into the mass of filling, so that on the further frontward movement of the filling mass, the feeler 29 is moved frontwardly without permissive movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. The effect ofthis is that the inclines 32 and 33 remain in their undisturbed relation as indicated in Fig. 3, and the frontward push upon the feeler effect-s simultaneous movement of the feeler member and feeler guide frontwardly in opposition to the spring 26. When, however, the filling has become sustantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the rear end of the feeler is no longer held from movement longitudinallyof the shuttle, and as the lay beats up, the frontward push against the feeler 29 causes the feeler to be moved frontwardly relativeto the feeler guide 22, and the cam portions 33 and 32 will be relatively moved to thereby eflect movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle until the stop 35 of the feeler engages the side of the guide as indicated in Fig. 2, whereupon, both the feeler and feeler guide are moved frontwardly, the parts assuming the position as indicated in Fig. 2. The movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttlewhich is caused by the relative movement of the inclines 33 and 32, acts upon the rear endportion of a lever 37 to move it upon its pivotal mounting 38 from the position indicated in Fig. '1 to that indicated in Fig. 2, and against the tension of the spring 48. The result is that the lever 48 will be turnedto lift theend 7 of the latch 6 into the path of movement of the operating member 8. It will thus be noted that when the filling'in the shuttle is sub-v stantially exhausted on a detecting beat,a frontward movement of the feeler relative to the feeler guide 22, is caused by the frontwar-d push upon the feeler, and the inclines or connection between the feeler and feeler guide, act to positively move the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle against the tension of the spring 43, but when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, and the feeler has no move ment longitudinally of the shuttle, then the inclines or connections 33, 32 between the feeler and feeler guide maintain their relative position as thelay beats up and the feeler guide and feeler are moved frontwardly in unison without disturbing the position of the lever 37.

The details of connection between the feeler and feeler guide whereby relative frontward movement of the two will cause lateral or side swipe movement of the feeler may be variously contrived, but the incline or cam portions 82, 33 provide a convenient form of means for such connection.

What is claimed is 2- 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a feeler guide mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler lying alongside the feeler guide, and mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle but held from such longitudinalmovement by engagement with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof a cooperating cam and recess, one on the feeler and the otheron the feeler guide for causing frontward movement of the feeler to move the guide frontwardly without relative frontward movement of the two when a working supply of filling ispresent on a detectmg beat and for causcombination of a feeler guide yieldingly held in rearward position, a feeler extending alongside the feeler guide, a plurality of engaged inclines on the feeler gulde and feeler for moving the latter awayfrom the former and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push upon the feeler on a detecting beat and held from effecting such. movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling until substantial ex haustion thereof, means extending between the feeler and feeler guide to limit the move? ment of the feeler away from the feeler guide and means for replenishing filling when the feeler is moved, longitudinally of the shuttle. i r

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler guide, a spring act.-

ing rearwardly upon said guide, a feeler eX- ment of filling.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler guide, a feeler having a portion extending alongside the feeler guide, cam connections at spaced intervals between the feeler guide and said portion, yielding means for holding the cam con,- nections in engagement, and a single spring acting upon the feeler guide for holding both the feeler guide and feeler in rearward position.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler guide mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and extending in the general direction in which it moves, a filling engaging feeler extending substantially parallel to the feeler guide and mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, means for yieldingly forcing the feeler guide rearwardly, connections at spaced intervals between the feeler guide and feeler constructed and arranged to move the feeler away from the feeler guide in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the feeler is moved frontwardly by the frontward push of a surface within the shuttle and is not held from moving longitudinally of the shuttle by the fill- In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler guide mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler having a portion extending alongside the feeler guide, connections at spaced intervals between the feeler guide and said feeler portion for causing both the feeler and feeler guide to be moved frontwardly by the push upon the :teeler when, a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat and for causing movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push of a surface Within the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, and a spring for holding the connections in yielding engagement.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the I combination of a feeler guide mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler having a portion extending alongside the feeler guide connections at spaced intervals between the feeler guide and said feeler portion for causing both the feeler and feeler guide to be moved frontwardly by the push upon the feeler when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat and for causing movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontward push of a surface within the shuttle when the fillingis substantially" exhausted, a lever having an end bearing against the feeler and moved by it when the feeler is moved longitudinally ofthe shuttle, and a spring acting through the lever and yieldingly holding the said connections in engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ISAAC SNOW. 

